Ireland’s water bodies sit at the heart of the country’s environment, economy, and way of life. Protecting them matters for nature, farming, and public health alike. The Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) was launched in March 2024 to help farmers reduce agricultural pressures on water quality, and more than two years on, the scheme has moved well beyond its pilot phase. Here’s where it stands, what it funds, and how farmers can get involved.
What is the ‘Farming for Water’ Project?
Farming for Water is a €60 million EIP scheme, the largest ever carried out in Ireland. It is delivered by the River Basin Management Service (RBMS), formerly the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), in partnership with Teagasc and Dairy Industry Ireland. The project runs to the end of 2027 and targets farms within designated Priority Areas for Action (PAAs), where local water quality is falling short of targets.
Where is the Funding Coming From?
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has allocated €50 million over five years to fund on-farm measures, while the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) contributes €10 million towards administrative and operational costs. Budget 2026 added a further €42 million for water quality initiatives, including Farming for Water, alongside urban nature-based drainage projects and river barrier removal work, a fourfold year-on-year increase in this area of funding.
What are the Specific Aims of the ‘Farming for Water’ Project?
The project targets the run-off of sediment, pesticides, and nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) from farmland into rivers, lakes, and streams. Excess nutrients drive algae growth, which lowers oxygen levels and threatens aquatic life. At the time of launch, over 40% of Irish rivers had excess nitrate and 35% of lakes had excess phosphorus, concentrations the scheme aims to bring down through targeted, locally led action.
How Does the Application Process Work?
Eligible farmers, typically those already assessed under the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP), go through a straightforward process:
- Application and farm visit: the farmer submits a simplified application and receives a water quality farm visit, along with a rainwater management plan and nutrient use score. This stage carries a €500 payment.
- Water Action Plan: the farmer completes a rainwater management plan and attends a training programme, triggering a further €156 payment.
- Further measures: additional EIP measures are identified and incorporated into the plan to target the right intervention in the right location.
What Measures Might Be Put In Place?
There are now over 40 measures to choose from, including:
- Hedgerow and tree planting
- Fencing to exclude cattle from watercourses
- Alternative water supply (e.g. solar pumps, nose pumps)
- Sediment traps and riparian buffer zones
- Watercourse crossings and bridges
- Pesticide mitigation measures
- Nutrient Management Plans and catch crops
- Farmer training courses
How Many Farmers Have Taken Part So Far?
Uptake has grown steadily since launch. As of mid-2026, 5,499 applications had been submitted, with 5,461 approved, and nearly €9.92 million paid out to farmers, with roughly 1,169 still awaiting payment. This is a marked step up from the scheme’s early days, when uptake was still projected rather than realised.
Farms Putting the Measures Into Practice
The project launched at Róisín and David Fay’s farm in Westmeath, chosen to demonstrate how small changes can have a big impact. The Fays installed a solar pump so their cattle could draw water without entering the river directly, improving water quality for everyone downstream.
More recently, Kilkenny suckler beef farmer Jimmy Madigan secured just over €11,000 in grant aid for measures on a 62-acre out-farm within the Nore catchment, including slurry testing and reseeding with a clover mix. His experience shows the kind of practical, farm-level support now flowing through the scheme.
Conclusion for Ireland’s ‘Farming for Water’ Project
Good water quality improves access to clean drinking water for us and livestock. Clean waters also support tourism and recreation while protecting wildlife. With this project, there is potential to improve Irish water quality by giving farmers the resources to address local challenges. Interested farmers are encouraged to consult their Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) advisers for further information.
Learn about the benefits of water quality monitoring for different businesses here!
